Electric switch



G. J. MEUER Dec. 2, 1930.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 31, 1928 A TTOR/VEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE J. MEUER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CUTLER-HAMMER, INC., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed Kay 31, 1928. Serial No.281,890.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches.

An object of theinvention is to provide a switch havin a minimum numberof parts 5 which are so designed as to facilitate production andassembly thereof.

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved form ofpivotal connection between the movable contactor of the switch and thesupporting frame.

Another object is to provide improved toggle actuating means for theswitch, together with novel means for limiting the degree of movement ofthe actuator in opposite direc- 15 tions respectively.

Another object is to provide improved spacing means for the resilientstationary contacts of the switch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention as embodied in atoggle lever actuated surface snap switch, but it is to be understoodthat certain features of the invention are likewise applicable to othertypes of electric switches, such as push button actuated switches foreither flush mounting or surface mounting, etc.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged top plan view of a toggle leveractuated surface snap switch with the cover member removed and with thestationary contact and its terminal member at the upper left hand sideof the base removed for purposes of illustration. a

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the cover member in position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan n view of a portion of thebase, with one of the stationary contacts and its clamping terminalplate secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the metallic frame member in verticalsection and the & movable switch contact in side elevation, and

illustrating in dotted lines a temporary position of the latter duringassembly thereof with the former; certain elements of the switchactuatin mechanism having been omitted toclarify this feature of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the metallic frame, movable contactorand actuating means for the latter assembled as a unit preparatory toattachment thereof to the insulating base.

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in perspective, ofthe several parts illustrated in Fig. 5 prior to assembly thereof.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a relatively thin metallic blank or stampingfrom which each of the stationary contacts of the switch may be formed.

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner of forming two of the stationary contactsof Fig. 1 from blanks such as illustrated in Fig. 6,the other twostationary contacts being formed from like'blanks but having theprojecting arms thereof bent in the opposite direction.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the contact shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the clamping terminal platesillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and showing the usual terminal screwapplied thereto.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentar View, partly in section and partly in side eevation, illustrating a modified form of spring toggle connectionbetween the toggle operating lever and the movablecontactor of theswitch, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank from which frame is formed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 15 designates a base formed ofany suitable insulating material such as porcelain, or any of thevarious other types of plastic composition material. As shown the base15 is provided with a centrally located substantially rectangular recessor cavity 16 within which the movable contactor 17 of the switch isadapted to oscillate. Said contactor 17 is preferably supported by aframe 1.8 which is substantially of inverted U-shape in cross section,said frame having the end portions 19 and 20 of its arms bent atsubstantially right angles thereto to provide supporting feet forattachment to the base 15.

Thus the end portions 19 and 20 are provided with tapped openings 21 and22, respectively, for cooperation with the shanks 23 and 24 of attachingscrews the heads of which (not shown) are located in suitablecountersunk openings in the lower surface of the base. As will beunderstood the frame 16 is preferably formed from a sin le metallicblank (Fig. 12) having a per oration 25 adapted to provide an openingfor the switch operating lever when the blank is bent to the formillustrated in the other figures of drawings.

Said blank is also provided with a pair of oppositely arrangedsubstantially rectangular openings 26 and 27, which are so disposed thatupon final formation of the frame 18 one portion of each of saidopenings extends vertically and another portion of each of said openingsextends horizontally as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

I have indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12 the points at which theblank is bent in forming the frame, it being noted that the verticalarms 28 and 29 are connected only by the integral cross pieces 30 and31. Said arms are likewise provided with slightly curved rojections 32and 33 which are perforate as indicated at 34 and 35, respectively, toreceive a ivot pin 36.

he pm 36 is adapted to penetrate a pivot opening 37 in a flat sheetmetal stamping 38. As best shown in Fig. 6 said stamping 38 is ofsubstantially triangular contour, and the same is provided with aprojecting upper end portion 39 of irregular contour to !provide aninterlocking connection between t e same and the insulating material 40molded thereabout which forms the operating handle of the switch. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 5 said insulating handle is of suflicient width toprovide a fairly close fit thereof between the arms 28 and 29 of frame18, whereas suflicient clearance is provided around the o ening 37 tofacilitate insertion of the pivot in 36.

The opposite ends 41 and 42 o stamping 38 extend outwardly beyond thelower edge of the insulating handle, and the upper surfaces of these endportions are adapted to engage the lower surfaces of the cross pieces 30and 31 of the frame 18 to limit the oscillating or pivotal movement ofthe handle.

The stamping 38 is also provided with a depending projection 43 having arounded end 44 adapted to engage in a socket formed by the flared upperend 45 of a tubular member 46; said flared end 45 being also adapted toinsure proper positionin of member 46 within the upper end of a codedspring 47.

The other end of the coil 47 is adapted to fit over a projection orabutment 48 formed on the integral cross piece 49 of contactor 17between the arms 50 and 51 of the latter. Contactor 17 is provided withend portions 52 and 53 extending in opposite directions from the arms 50and 51, respectively, at substantially right angles thereto. Said endportions 52 and 53 are of increased width adjacent to the arms 50 and51, respectively, as indicated at 54 and 55, whereby said end portionsare respectively provided with the stepped surfaces 56, 57 and 58, 59for a purpose hereinafter described.

The respective stationary contacts of the switch may be formed fromblanks of like shape and dimensions, and in Fig. 7 I have shown apreferred form ofblank for this purpose. Said blank comprisesessentially a substantially circular portion 60 having a perforation 61therein and an arm 62 extendlng substantially tangentially therefrom.Arm 62 has branches 63 and 64 extending therefrom at a right angle toeach other, and extending from the branch 64 at a right angle thereto isa branch 65.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the same shows a stationary contact 66 formedfrom the blank illustrated in Fig. 7. Contacts 66 formed as shown inFig. 8 may be located at two of the diagonally opposed corners of therecess 16, as shown in Fig. 1, and contacts 67 each formed from a blanksuch as illustrated in Fig. 6, but having the arms of said blank bent inthe opposite direction, may be located at the other two diagonallyopposed corners of the recess 16. In forming a contact such as shown inFigs. 8 and 9 from the blank of Fig. 7, the projection or branch 63 isbent downwardly, along the dotted line 68 at substantially a right angleto arm 62, and the branch 64 is also bent downwardly, along the dottedline'69, at a redetermined angle to the arm 62 (as best illustrated inFig. 9). The tip 70 of branch is bent at a slight angle along the dottedline 71 (as best illustrated in Fig. 8).

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the recess 16 isprovided at each of the four corners thereof (as best illustrated at theupper left hand corner thereof) with a communicating notch or recess 72.Said notches 72 extend from the upper surface of base 15 substantiallyto the bottom of recess 16, each notch being provided with verticalwalls 73 and 74 extending at a right angle to each other, and a verticalwall 75 extending at an obtuse angle to the wall 74 and merging into thewall 76 of recess 16. The wall 76 of recess 16 is also preferablyprovided with a notch 77 extending downwardly for a short distance fromthe upper surface of base 15.

The recess 16 is preferably provided with straight end walls (shown indotted lines at 78 and 79 Fig. 1) with which the walls 73 of notches 72form right angles. The base 15 is provided with a perforation 80adjacent to each corner of recess 16, and adjacent to each perforation80' is a cylindrical recess 81. The perforations 80 are respectivelyadapted to receive the shanks 82 of securing screws which extendupwardly from the lower face of base 15; said shanks 82 being adapted topenetrate the openings 61 in the. respective stationary contacts and totake within the tapped openings 83 in terminal plates 84 and 84.

The usual wire retaining lugs 85 are arranged on different sides of therespective diagonally opposed pairs of terminal plates 84 and 84', andeach terminal plate is provided with the usual binding screw 86, theaforementioned cylindrical recesses 81 bein arranged to receive theshanks of said bin ing screws.

In 'assembling the contacts 66 upon the base 15, the sameare sopositioned that the branches 64' extend into notches 72 and branches 63extend into notches 77, the arms 62 restin upon the upper surface ofbase 15 with per orations 61 in the former registering with perforations80 in the latter, whereupon the respective terminal plates 84 and 84 aresecured to the base by the aforementioned screws 82, thus clamping thecontacts to the base.

It will be noted that the shape of the stationary contacts is such thatupon clamping thereof to the base the branches 64 of each pair to bebridged by contact 17 will tend to approach each other, whereas byreason of the engagement of such branches 64 with the walls 73 of therespective notches 72 the branches at opposite ends of the end wall 78of recess 16 and branches 65 at opposite ends of the end wall 79 of saidrecess are normally spaced a predetermined distance apart.

Such positioning of branches 65, in conjunction with the angulararrangement of tifps thereof insures proper cooperation o the pairs ofstationary contacts with the movable contactor 17; it being noted thatsufiicient. clearance is provided for the branches 64 and'65 to providefor flexure thereof whereby proper wiping engagement of the contact 17therewith is insured.

Base 15 is also preferably provided with perforations 87 ad acent toeach of the binding screws 86, said perforations form ng the usuallead-in passages for the circuit wires (not shown). Assuming positioningof the stationary contacts at each of the four corners of the recess 16,the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for use as a threewayswitch, the usual connector or bus bar 88 being interposed between thesecuring screws 82 at the upper right and left hand sides of the base(Fig. 1), said connector being located within a suitable recess in thelower face of the base 15 (as best illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.2).

As will be obvious the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may betransformed into a single-pole switch by merely omitting the contactsand terminals at the upper and lower left hand ends of recess 16(Fig. 1) and by omitting the connector or bus bar 88. Moreover, thedevice illustrated may be wired to provide a single-pole switch withoutnecessitating removal of any of the switch parts.

Diametrically opposed slightly elliptical openings 89 are adapted toreceive screws or bolts (not shown) for attachment of the base to asuitable support. Said base 15 is also preferably provided withdiametrically opposed pillars or projections 90 upon which the metallichousing or cover member 91 (Fig. 2) is adapted to rest, said covermember being provided with the usual insulating lining 92.

Projections 90 are perforated, as indicated at 93 to provide forreception of screws or bolts (not shown) which pass throughcorresponding perforations in the cover member, said bolts taking intosuitable nuts located in countersunk recesses in the lower surface ofbase 15 to provide for rigid attachment of the cover member to saidbase.

In assembling the parts shown in Fig. 6 to provide the unit shown inFig. 5, the insulating handle 40 is preferably passed up wardly from thebottom of frame 18 and through the opening 25 in the latter until thepivot opening 37 registers with the perforations 34 and 35 in the frame,whereupon the headed pivot pin 36 is inserted and the pro ecting endthereof pinched or otherwise upset, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Thereupon the movable contactor 17 is as' sembled with respect to frame18 in the manner best illustrated in dotted. lines in Fig. 4. Thus thecontactor 17 is tilted so that the end portion 52 of its arm 50 may beinserted through opening 26 in frame 18 until the lower surface 56 ofsaid end portion engages the horizontal extremity 94 of said opening.With the point 94 as an axis the arm 51 of contactor 17 may be swung insuch manner that its end portion 53 clears the horizontal extremity 95of the opening 27 in the frame. The contactor 17 may then be bodilyshifted laterally to cause engagement of the lower surfaces 57 and 59 ofits respective end ortions with the upper surfaces of end portions 19and 20 of frame 18. It will be noted that when the contactor 17 isfinally assembled on'the frame the vertical shoulders 96 and 97 on theend portions of the former are located between the shoulders formed bythe horizontal extremities 94 and 95 of openings 26 and. 27 to preventlateral. shifting of the contactor in either direction,

lVith contactor 17 assembled in frame 18 in the manner just describedthe lower end of coiled spring 4:?" may be dropped over the abutment orprojection 48 on said contractor, and the upper end of said coiledspring having the flared tubular member 4-6 inserted therein may bereadily brought into engagement with the rounded erge 14; of projection13 of the operating lever.

The parts assembled as shown in 5 may then be attached to base 15 bymeans of screws 23 and 24, as aioredescribed. While I have specificallydescribed one manner of assembling the parts of my improved switchmechanism, other ways of asseini'iling such parts will be apparent tothose skilled in the art:

in the modified form oi toggle spring actuating mechanism illustrated inFig. ll parts corresponding to those ai oredescrihed have beendesignated by like reference numerals,-it being noted that the form ofthe movable contactor 1'? is substantially like that aforedescribed,except that the abutment 48 is preferably omitted, and the adjacentfaces of the arms 50 and 51 of contactor 17 are spaced apart onlysniiicientlv to provide clearance ior the coiled spring 47 uponoscillation of the latter. Within the lower end of spring at? is atubular member 98 having a flared lower end to provide an abutment forsaid spring-two sides of said flared end being bent downwardly. asindicated at 99 and 100, to straddle the cross piece 49 of thecontactor.

Fitted into the upper end of coiled spring 47 is a member 101. saidmember having an annular flange resting on said spring and also having acupped upper surface :03 adapted to receive the rounded end 4-1 of theoperating lever. l t ember 'llll is also provided with a shank 164normally telescoping to a predetermined degree into the member 98 andadapted for further telescoping movement thereinto incident to oscillation'of the operating lever in opposite directions respectively. As willbe apparent, the members 98 and 104 act to guide the coiled spring 47 atall times and prevent undue bucking or lateral distortion thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination with recessed insulating base,a frame of substantially inverted U-shape secured by its arms to saidbase and bridging the recess therein, an opening in each side of saidframe adjacent to said base, a substantially U- shaped contactor adaptedto oscillate within said recess, said contactor having end portionsextending outwardly from the arms thereof at substantially right anglesthereto,

messes the clearance between said openings being at least as great asthe distance between the innor end of one of said end portions and theouter end of the other of said end portions whereby said contactor maybe assembled with said frame by sequential insertion of said endportions into said openings, and means on said end portions of saidcontactor for engagement with said frame to prevent lateral shifting ofthe former with respect to the latter upon assembly thereof,

2. An electric switch comprising a metallic frame substantially ofinverted ll-shape in cross section, the parallel arms of said frame eachhaving an elongated rectangular opening therein, the end portions ofsaid arms being bent outwardly at substantially right angles theretopoints intermediate the length of the respective openings, a fiat sheetmetal contactor of substantially U-shape, the parallel arms of: saidcontactor having end portions extending outwardly therefrom, each ofsaid end portions having stepped surlaces, said end portions beinginsertable sequentially into said openings by tilting movement of saidcontactor shoulders between said stepped surfaces arranged to engage theend walls of said openings respectively to prevent lateral shiftingmovement of said contactor with respect to said irame, an operatinglever pivoted to said frame above the aforementioned openings therein,and a coiled compression spring interposed between said lever and saidcontactor.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with an inverted U-shapedmetallic frame. the parallel sides of said frame having foot portionsextending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, theadjacent portions of each. side and foot having a common perforation, acontactor comprising a U-sl1aped flat metallic stamping, the spaced armsof said contactor having integral outwardly extending end portionsprovided with stepped lower surfaces, either of said end portions beingfreely insertable at an angle into one of said perforations to permitsubsequent insertion of the other of said end portions into the otherperforation, the outer stepped surfaces of said contactor being adaptedfor engagement with the respective foot portions of the frame to providefor oscillation of the contactor, said cont actor being alternatelyengagcable with the opposite walls of said perforations to limit thedegree of movement of the former in opposite directions respectively, aplurality of stationary contacts, and means for effecting snap movementof said contactor into and out of engagement with said contacts.

4. As an article of manufacture, an electric switch contactor comprisinga flat metallic stamping of substantially U-shape, the arms of saidcontactor having integral end portions extending outwardly therefrom atsubstantially right angles thereto, each of said contactor with respectto said support.

5. As an article of manufacture, an electric snap switch contactorcomprising a sub stantially U-shaped fiat metallic stamping, the arms ofsaid contactor havin integral end portions extending outwar ly therefromat substantially right angles thereto, each of said end portions havin apair of lower surfaces offset from each ot er, the opposite extremesurfaces providing pivot portions for suspension of said contactor froma suitable support, and an abutment projection intermediate the arms ofsaid contactor and integral therewith,

6. In an electric snap switch, the combination with a molded insulatingbase having a substantially rectangular recess in the upper surfacethereof, vertical notches'communicating with said recess at the fourcorners of the latter, stationary contacts secured to the uppersurfaceof said base and having depending arms engaging the adjacentvertical walls of each pair of notches to limit the degree of movementof said arms toward each other, said arms each having a branch extendingoutwardly from said notches and the branches of each'pair havingportions flared outwardly from each other, an inverted U-shaped [framemounted on said base, a contactor comprising a flat sheet metal stampi'ng of substantially U-shape, the arms of said contactor having steppedend portions ex tending outwardly therefrom at substantially rightangles thereto, the sides of said frame having alined perforationswithin which the end portions of said contactor are insertablesequentially to provide for pivotal connection thereof with said frame,and

means comprising a coiled compression spring and actuating means"therefor to effect snap movement of said contactor into and out ofengagement with said pairs of stationary contacts.

"7. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising ametallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portionsintegral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion beinglocated in a common plane, said side portions being respectivelyprovided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switchcontactor, said contactor comprising a fiat sheet metal memberof'substantially U-shape, the arms of said U-shaped member having endportions arranged at substantially right angles thereto, and certain ofsaid end portions being provided with a plurality of lower edge surfacesarranged in stepped relation to each openings upon subsequent edgewisemoveother, one of said end portions being fully insertable into one ofsaid side openings to provide for alinement of the other end portionwith its corresponding side opening upon tilting of said U-shapedmember, whereby the last mentioned end portion and the uppermost steppedsurface of said first mentioned end portion may be brought into pivotalengagement with the respective side ment of said U-shaped member.

8. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising ametallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portionsintegral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion beinglocated in a common plane, said side portions being respectivelyprovided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switchcontactor, said contactor comprisin a flat sheet metal member ofsubstantially l l -shape, the arms of said U-shaped member having endportions arranged at substantially right angles thereto, each of saidend portions being provided with a pair of lower edge surfaces arrangedin stepped relation to each other, either of said end portions beingfully insertable into one of said side openings to provide for alinementof the other end portion with its corresponding side openi-ngb tiltingof said U- 95 shaped member, where y the uppermost stepped surfaces ofthe respective end portions may be brought into pivotal engagement withthe respective side openings upon between the stepped surfaces of eachof the aforementioned pairs bein adapted to restrain said U-shapedmem eragainst further edgewise movement in either direction.

9. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising ametallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portionsintegral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion beinglocated in a common plane, said side portions being respectivelyprovided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switchcontactor, said contactor comprising a flat sheet metal member ofsubstantiall U-shape, the arms of said U-sha ed mem er havin end portions arrange at substantially right angles thereto, each of said endportions being provided with a pair of lower edge surfaces arranged instepped relation to each other, either of said end portions being fullyinsertable into one of said side openings'to provide for alinement ofthe other end portion with its corresponding side opening by tilting ofsaid U-shaped member, whereby the uppermost stepped surfaces of therespective end portions maybe brought into pivotal engagement with therespective side openings upon subsequent edgewise movement of saidU-shaped member, an actuating lever pivoted to said frame, and acompression spring interposed between said lever and said U- shapedmember to hold the latter in assembled relation to the frame and toeffect snap movements of said member from each extreme position to theother upon movement of said actuating lever in opposite directionsrespectively.

10. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal brackethaving substantially parallel side portions, said side portions havingalined perforations forming closed bearings, of a flat punched sheetmetal member of substantially bail form, the ends of said bail membereach havin a pluralit of lower edge surfaces arrange in steppe relationto each other and bein insertable into said bearings by sequentialtilting and edgewise movements of said member, an actuating memberpivotally su ported by said bracket above said bail mem ber, and acompression spring interposed between said actuator and said bail memberto retain the latter in pivotal engagement with said bracket and toeffect sna movement thereof upon movement of said spring in eitherdirection across I the pivotal center of said bail member.

11. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal framehaving parallel sides, said sides having perforations forming closedbearings, of a flat punched sheet metal plate of substantially U-shape,the arms of said U-shaped plate having integral angular projectionsadapted for sequential insertion into said bearings by tilting andedgewise movements of said plate with respect to said frame, saidprojections each having ofi'set lower edge portions providing shouldersto limit edgewise movement of said plate after assembly of the parts, anactuating lever pivotally supported by said frame above the pivotalcenter of said plate, and means comprising a compression spring interosed between said lever and said plate to e ect snap movements of thelatter to alternate extreme positions upon opposite movements of saidactuating lever.

12. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal framehaving parallel sides, said sides having perforations forming closedbearings; of a flat punched sheet metal late of substantially U-shape,the arms of sai U-shaped plate having integral angular projectionsadapted for sequential insertion into said bearings by tilting andedgewise'movements of said plate with respect to said frame, saidprojections each having offset lower edge portions providing shouldersto limit edgewise movement of said plate after assembly of the parts, anactuating lever comprising a flat punched sheet metal plate pivotallysupported by said frame above the pivotal center of said first mentionedplate and at right angles to the latter, means comprising a compressionspring in- GEORGE J. MEUER.

